Under the bill, projects that provide minerals vital to job creation, energy infrastructure, American economic competitiveness, and national security must be considered to be "infrastructure projects" as described in Executive Order 13604, entitled "Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects" dated March 22, 2012.This order directed federal agencies to significantly reduce the time required to make permitting and review decisions on infrastructure projects.

The bill sets forth general requirements for an existing mineral exploration or mine permit application.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)or the Forest Service shall appoint a project lead for the mine permitting process to coordinate with other agencies to ensure that the agencies: minimize delays, set and adhere to timelines for completion of the permitting process, set clear permitting goals, and track progress against goals.

The requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969are satisfied if the BLM or the Forest Service determines that the agency issuing the permit will address specified factors, such as environmental impact, alternatives to issuance of the permit, or any irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources that would be involved in the proposed action. The time period for completion of the mine permitting review process shall not exceed 30 months, except by mutual agreement.

Projects on National Forest System land shall be exempt from regulations that prohibit timber tree cutting and road construction in areas without roads.

The bill does not apply to oil, gas, and potash leasing and development within the designated potash areas of Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico.

]]>00Introduced in House2018-04-11Reported to House with amendment(s)2018-04-11T13:10:53Z2018-04-16T14:38:34ZNational Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act

This bill addresses the mine permitting process.

Under the bill, projects that provide minerals vital to job creation, energy infrastructure, American economic competitiveness, and national security must be considered to be "infrastructure projects" as described in Executive Order 13604, entitled "Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects" dated March 22, 2012.This order directed federal agencies to significantly reduce the time required to make permitting and review decisions on infrastructure projects.

The bill sets forth general requirements for an existing mineral exploration or mine permit application.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)or the Forest Service shall appoint a project lead for the mine permitting process to coordinate with other agencies to ensure that the agencies: minimize delays, set and adhere to timelines for completion of the permitting process, set clear permitting goals, and track progress against goals.

The requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969are satisfied if the BLM or the Forest Service determines that the agency issuing the permit will address specified factors, such as environmental impact, alternatives to issuance of the permit, or any irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources that would be involved in the proposed action. The time period for completion of the mine permitting review process shall not exceed 30 months, except by mutual agreement.

Projects on National Forest System land shall be exempt from regulations that prohibit timber tree cutting and road construction in areas without roads.

The bill does not apply to oil, gas, and potash leasing and development within the designated potash areas of Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico.

]]>17Reported to House with amendment(s)Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAlternative and renewable resourcesDepartment of AgricultureDepartment of the InteriorElectric power generation and transmissionEnergy storage, supplies, demandEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchForests, forestry, treesInfrastructure developmentLand use and conservationLicensing and registrationsMiningOil and gasPipelinesStrategic materials and reservesPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesNational Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. AMODEI:H.R. 520.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:The constitutionalauthority of Congress to enact thislegislation is provided by Article I, Section 8 of the UnitedStates Constitution,specifically clause 1 (relating toproviding for the general welfare of the United States) andclause 18 (relating to the powerto make all laws necessaryand proper for carrying out the powers vested in Congress),and Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2(relating to the power ofCongress to dispose of and make all needful rules andregulations respecting the territory or otherpropertybelonging to the United States).[Page H546]]]>2018-09-19T12:15:35ZH. Rept. 115-631MarkRA000369E.Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2]NV2090A0003698366Amodei22017-01-14T04:47:32ZHR1.0.0text/xmlENPursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.Congressional Research Service, Library of CongressThis file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.